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GMU 243 Manson Hunting, Washington

GMU 243 (Manson): 72% public land, habitat grade C+, deer ★★★☆☆, 356 mi².

DeerElkPublic Land
A+
Best public habitat: 73 / 100 Top public open-access cell in the unit
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Tap anywhere on the map to move the pin, then hit Analyze to open that exact spot in HuntVantage for a live 0–100 score with per-species ratings.

HuntVantage habitat grade

C+
Grade C+ — mean HuntScore 49/100 averaged across public open-access land · 1406 habitat cells · 356 mi²
A+ 0%A 3%B+ 6%B 12%C+ 47%C 21%D 10%F 1%

Grade distribution of the habitat cells inside the unit — higher-scoring cells are the pockets worth scouting first. HuntVantage weighs cover, water, food, hunting pressure, and habitat diversity from public land-cover and land-ownership data.

Per-species ratings

Overall grade measures general habitat; these species ratings re-weight the same factors for each animal’s needs — the number that matters for a species-specific hunt.

Deer
★★★☆☆
52/100 habitat
Elk
★★★★☆
66/100 habitat
Waterfowl
★★☆☆☆
34/100 habitat
Turkey
★★★☆☆
48/100 habitat
Black Bear
★★★★☆
65/100 habitat
Wild Boar
★★★☆☆
47/100 habitat

Public land & access

72% of GMU 243 is public land; 71% is public and open-access.

Overwhelmingly national forest — Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest — on the slopes above the north shore of Lake Chelan near Manson.

US Forest Service 951 cellsBLM 37 cellsWA DNR 15 cellsCounty 3 cellsNational Park Service (no hunting) 1 cells
open access: 1003unknown access: 400restricted access: 3

Ownership from PAD-US; a cell is one ~0.46 km habitat hexagon. Verify boundaries and access on the ground — inholdings and seasonal closures aren’t shown here.

Hunting prospects

General + draw permits

GMU 243 (Manson) rises off the north side of Lake Chelan into national-forest high country — timbered ridges and basins holding mule deer with a resident elk component. Hunt the high edges and burns early and let weather push deer down the ridges as the season goes. Confirm general and permit seasons with WDFW.

Scout the best spots in this unit

The highest-scoring public open-access habitat cells in GMU 243. Open any one in HuntVantage to see its live score and per-species breakdown.

A+
Score 73/10048.1782, -120.5149
A+
Score 72/10048.0481, -120.3535
A
Score 71/10048.2544, -120.6062
A
Score 71/10048.2470, -120.6098
A
Score 70/10048.0452, -120.3335

Nearby units & guides

Sources: wdfw.wa.gov · wdfw.wa.gov · geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov. HuntVantage habitat grades are independent of WDFW.

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Frequently asked questions

How much of GMU 243 (Manson) is public land?
About 72% of GMU 243 is public land, and 71% is public and open-access, managed mainly by the US Forest Service.
What can you hunt in GMU 243?
By habitat, the unit rates best for deer (3/5), elk (4/5). Its overall habitat grade is C+ (mean HuntScore 49/100 across public open-access land).
Is GMU 243 good for deer hunting?
HuntVantage rates deer habitat in GMU 243 at 3/5 (52/100). That's a habitat model — scout the higher-scoring cells and verify seasons with WDFW.
What season is GMU 243?
General + draw permits. Always confirm current seasons, weapon choices, and permit requirements in the WDFW regulations before hunting.